Brisbane Strikers FC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brisbane Strikers
BrisbaneStrikers.png
Full nameBrisbane Strikers Football Club
Nickname(s)Strikers
Founded1991 (as Brisbane United)
GroundPerry Park
Capacity5,000
ChairmanJulianna Suranyi
CoachVedran Becirbegovic
LeagueNPL Queensland
202113th of 14 (Relegated)
WebsiteClub website
Away colours
Current season

Brisbane Strikers Football Club is an Australian semi-professional football club based in Brisbane, Queensland. Founded in 1991 as Brisbane United, the club competed in the National Soccer League until the 2003–04 season and was one of two clubs contending for an A-League licence during the establishment of the league in 2004.

Brisbane Strikers currently competes in the National Premier League Queensland, with home matches played at Perry Park.[1]

History[]

Background[]

Brisbane's first representation in the National Soccer League (NSL), then known as the Philips Soccer League (PSL), came in the form of Brisbane City and Brisbane Lions. Brisbane City won the first two national knockout competitions, by defeating Marconi in 1977 and West Adelaide in 1978.

Brisbane Lions won the knockout competition in 1981, also defeating West Adelaide. Brisbane City left the NSL in after the 1986 season and Brisbane Lions after the 1988 season.

National Soccer League 1991–2004[]

The next Brisbane team in the NSL was Brisbane United, which played from 1991 to 1993 coached by Miron Bleiberg. The team wore predominately white, with a blue and gold trim — the official colours of Brisbane.[2] After a troubled time, with small crowds, confronting relegation and with a "disenchanted team", former Australian Soccer Federation chairman Ian Brusasco headed a trustee management group to restructure the club.[3] The name was changed to the Brisbane Strikers for the 1993/94 season, with the colours, newly installed coach Bruce Stowell and most players retained.[4]

The Brisbane United club crest, used between 1991 and 1993.

Initially the Brisbane Strikers were owned by the Queensland Soccer Federation (QSF), which handed the running of the club to a Trust Management Group composed of Brusasco (also a former president of the QSF), Clem Jones (former Lord Mayor of Brisbane) and leading football official Frank Speare.

Coached by Stowell for three seasons, the Strikers finished fourth in 1995/96 to qualify for their first NSL finals appearance, in which they lost a semi-final playoff over two legs to Sydney United.

In the 1996/97 season, the Strikers ditched the white to wear a predominately gold kit, with blue trims, and were led by player-coach Frank Farina. The team finished second on the NSL ladder to Sydney United before going on to beat United in their semi-final to set up a home grand final – against the same team.

During this period, future FIFA whistleblower Bonita Mersiades worked for the Strikers as the club's media officer.[5]

At a time when football was struggling for mainstream acceptance and credibility in Australia, NSL Grand Finals– the pinnacle of club football in Australia – generally drew crowds between 12,000 and 25,000. But the 1997 Grand Final, played at Lang Park in Brisbane, drew a capacity 40,446 spectators to watch the Strikers beat Sydney United 2–0 with goals by Farina and Rod Brown.

This was a watershed moment for football in Australia, but the Strikers struggled the next season, finishing 12th. A significant event in the history of the club occurred in 1998 when the QSF divested itself of its ownership, which passed to the Strikers Football Club Pty Ltd.

Scarcely three years after the club had played its part in Australian club football’s proudest moment, it was dealt a savage blow when Soccer Australia, as part of a restructuring of the national competition, refused the Strikers’ application for a place in the NSL, citing financial concerns. Canberra Cosmos was also expelled.[6] This left the national league without a representative from the country’s third most populous state.

Politicians, supporters and the general public waged a campaign to have the club reinstated to the national league. Then-Queensland premier Peter Beattie said of Soccer Australia officials: "Who the hell do they think they are?" How can you have a national soccer competition without a Queensland team? I mean, it's absolutely ridiculous. Soccer officials must be sensitive to its national obligations."[7]

Public pressure eventually convinced Soccer Australia to reverse its decision and grant the Strikers Football Club Pty Ltd a licence for the 2000/2001 season.

Back on the field, under coach John Kosmina, the Strikers finished fourth and qualified for the NSL finals. Eventual premiers South Melbourne FC prevailed over the Strikers in their two-legged semi-final.

The next season saw the Strikers struggle again and led to the club parting ways with Kosmina. Despite a host of coaches showing interest in the vacancy, including some from overseas, the Strikers took the step of appointing 28-year-old club captain Stuart McLaren as head coach, assisted by Luciano Trani. Together, the two assembled a squad of unsung players from the local leagues and turning them into a team that took the club back to the 2003/04 NSL finals only to lose a memorable semi-final play-off to Adelaide United.

That season was the last for the NSL. A strong reform movement within the game in Australia had seen a new Soccer Australia Board appointed (which would change its name to Football Federation Australia) under the Chairmanship of Frank Lowy and the new governing body set about creating a new national competition called the A-League.

1996–97 remained the only time a Queensland team had won an Australian national football title, until Brisbane Roar won the 2010–11 A-League title.

First A-League bid[]

The Brisbane Strikers were a prime candidate for the Brisbane position in the new A-League that kicked off in mid-2005. Football Federation Australia boss Frank Lowy was quoted at the time saying that the two Brisbane bids were outstanding, but the reality was that only one team would make it.

The A-League decided to go with the Lions bid, who changed their name to the Queensland Roar, whose name changed once more to the present Brisbane Roar, maintaining their local link to the Lions, and its Dutch ethnic iconography.[8]

Brisbane Premier League 2005–2007[]

Determined to find an outlet to continue their philosophy of developing the talents of Queensland footballers, the Brisbane Strikers joined forces with local Brisbane club North Star to field a team in the Brisbane Premier League. Coached by Bobby Hamilton, the new team qualified for the finals play-off in its first BPL season (2005) before falling to Palm Beach in a semi-final. However, in 2006 the Strikers carried all before them, winning the BPL championship, the Grand Final and the Premier Cup.

Another coaching change saw Craig Collins take on the player-coach role in 2007. It was an "almost" season for the Strikers, which saw them finish runners-up in the championship to Rochedale Rovers F.C., before losing a titanic struggle in the Grand Final to the same team by the scoreline of 5–4.

Queensland State League 2008–2012[]

With the Queensland State League due to commence in 2008 as part of Football Federation Australia and Football Queensland’s goal of enhancing career pathways across Queensland and providing a platform between the local and national competitions, the Strikers saw a position in the QSL as a natural "fit" with the club’s own player development ethos. Its application to join the new state competition was accepted and the club, once again under the coaching of Stuart McLaren, put its best foot forward on playing fields from Brisbane to Townsville in the inaugural QSL season. The Strikers finished second behind Sunshine Coast F.C. on the league table before hosting the Grand Final at Perry Park and losing to the same team.

The following (2009) season, McLaren and his squad clinched the QSL championship in the penultimate round of the competition after a tense season-long battle with Olympic FC. In doing so, the Brisbane Strikers became one of the very few football clubs in Australia to have won trophies at local, state and national levels. However, the Strikers lost in a Grand Final once again, going down 1–4 in a boilover result to Redlands United FC, who had finished the season in fourth position on the QSL ladder.

The 2010 and 2011 campaigns took on a familiar path. With taking on the coaching role from the departing McLaren, the club finished both seasons in second position on the league table before going on to host the Grand Finals and losing each one by an identical scoreline, 1–0 to Sunshine Coast FC. The 2012 QSL proved to be a successful season for the club. The Strikers claimed their second QSL championship in five years in emphatic fashion, finishing eight points above second place Far North Queensland Bulls FC. The Strikers were eliminated in a home semi-final 2–0 to Whitsunday Miners FC.

National Premier Leagues Queensland 2013–2021[]

Since 2013 the Strikers have competed in the National Premier Leagues Queensland, run by Football Queensland, the top tier state-level football (soccer) competition in Queensland, replacing the Queensland State League. The conference is a sub division of the National Premier Leagues. The league consists of teams across Queensland.

In seasons 2013 and 2014 the Strikers finished fourth in the league before being eliminated in the semi-finals by league winners and eventual Grand Final champions in Olympic FC and Palm Beach Sharks respectively.

Season 2015 saw a new coach take the helm in Kevin Aherne-Evans and while enjoying a relatively successful campaign it was to prove a frustrating year for the club. With the Strikers equal top of the league but second on goal difference their final game of the season was abandoned due to wet weather and with the governing body, Football Queensland, choosing not to reschedule the match and deem it a goalless draw they were forced to settle for the runners-up position. The disappointment from the last game controversy was further heightened when the Strikers qualified for the Grand Final, only to lose to their league rivals Moreton Bay United.

The Strikers proved a dominant force in season 2016, finally clinching the club's first National Premier Leagues Queensland league title. In 2017 Sean Lane took over the coaching duties from the departing Aherne-Evans. The Strikers became the first side to win consecutive league titles in the National Premier Leagues Queensland era after a gripping battle with Gold Coast City FC. Postseason football however continued to be a thorn in the Strikers' side with the team losing their semi-finals in both 2016 and 2017 seasons.

As league winners in 2016 and 2017 the Strikers also qualified for the Australia-wide National Premier Leagues finals series which sees the winner from each state federation compete in a knockout cup competition to be crowned national champions. After losing at the semi-final stage to eventual champions Sydney United 58 in 2016, the Strikers became the first Queensland side to make the Grand Final in 2017 where they hosted National Premier Leagues Victoria side Heidelberg United. The Strikers lost that match 2–0 in front of 1105 fans at Perry Park.

The following year, an annual $500,000 bequeathment from the late Dr Jones, which was paid to Strikers, Sport, Recreation and Welfare Association Limited for a decade after his death, ended as per the terms of his will. The club's 2020 financial report, submitted to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, noted: "The discontinuation of the above funding subsequent to 30 June 2018 gives rise to a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the ability of the entity to continue as a going concern."[9]

In 2019, the Strikers appointed Salvatore Sottile and Julianna Suranyi, who claimed to be a psychic,[10] to the board. Shortly afterwards, in February 2020, a player development partnership with Spanish club CD Leganes was announced, with the relationship between Sottile and CD Leganes representative Morris Pagniello cited as the driving force behind the deal.[11] Pagniello was one of about 50 people arrested as part of the 2015 "Dirty Soccer" Italian football match-fixing scandal.[12]

For the 2021 season, and without the financial stability of Dr Jones's bequeathment, Strikers chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans announced a new youth-focused policy[13] that saw almost the entire first-team squad depart for rival clubs. The effect was instant, with the Strikers winning just two matches in the 2021 NPL season, ensuring relegation for the first time in the club's history.

Atterton-Evans ceased being a director on 14 October 2021,[14] leaving the Strikers under the control of Sottile, Suranyi and Bosnian-born Brisbane businessman Dino Hasanovic.

Perry Park before kick-off for the 2019 FFA Cup semi-final against Melbourne City. The attendance was 3706.

FFA Cup[]

The Football Federation Australia Cup is Australia's national knockout Cup football competition. Since its inception in 2014 Brisbane Strikers has enjoyed some memorable moments in the FFA Cup.

Qualifying through the Brisbane zone for the national Round of 32 in 2014 the Strikers featured in a piece of Australian football history when its tie against Newcastle based club Broadmeadow Magic became the first live televised game of the new Cup competition. The Strikers won the game 2–1 but were eliminated in the Round of 16 after a 1–0 away loss to Adelaide City FC.

Once again the Strikers made it to the national stage of the FFA Cup in 2015 when the qualified for the Round of 32 from the Brisbane zone. However they suffered a heartbreaking 4–3 extra time defeat to Hume City FC.

The 2016 FFA Cup saw Brisbane Strikers qualify for the third successive time, this time drawing Darwin NorZone Premier League side Shamrock Rovers Darwin FC in the Round of 32.[15] On 27 July 2016, the Strikers ran out 6–0 winners over Rovers Darwin in front of 1358 people at Darwin Football Stadium.[16] In the Round of 16, Brisbane drew A-League side Melbourne City FC.[17] In front of 3571 people at Perry Park, the Strikers' biggest crowd since their exit from the NSL, two Bruno Fornaroli penalties saw the A-League side progress, despite the Strikers taking the lead through Greig Henslee. The match also marked Tim Cahill's first game since arriving back in Australia, joining Melbourne City.[18]

The Strikers next qualified for the Round of 32 in the 2019 FFA Cup, where they met Wellington Phoenix at Perry Park on 7 August. In front of 1612 fans, the Strikers went 2–0 ahead through goals to Hiroki Omori and Andy Pengelly, before Wellington scored twice to equalise. The Strikers held on in extra time, thanks largely to goalkeeper Bon Scott, who saved an extra time penalty. Scott continued his heroics in the penalty shoot-out, which the Strikers won 4–3.[19]

The Strikers commissioned Cox Architects to design a 15,694-seat boutique stadium for Perry Park as part of the club's bid to join the A-League.

The Strikers qualified for the quarter finals for the very first time on 29 August 2019, when they defeated Manly United 1–0 in front of 1240 spectators at Perry Park[20] and drawing Moreland Zebras in the next round.

The Strikers defeated the Zebras 3–2 in front of 1915 at Perry Park on 18 September 2019,[21] to become the first Queensland side to qualify for the FFA Cup semi finals, setting up a match with Melbourne City. They lost that match at Perry Park 1–5,[22] in front of a post-NSL club record crowd of 3706.

Second A-League bid[]

The Strikers announced in May 2017 that the club would once again put in a bid to join the A-League,[23] with the club making the announcement on the 20th anniversary of its NSL grand final win.

Central to the Strikers bid was the club's plans for a 15,694-seat boutique stadium at Perry Park.

However, the club pulled out of the race when the bid's financial backers pulled their support. The debacle led to criticism from fans about the club's direction and the "inertia" of the bid.[24]

Later, it emerged that the Strikers had approached Brisbane City, another Brisbane club vying for A-League admission, about consolidating their bids. Brisbane City knocked back that approach.[25] City subsequently withdrew its own bid.[26]

Players[]

First-team squad[]

As of 23 December 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Fiji FIJ Ryan Mudaliar
2 DF Australia AUS Bes Akbari
4 MF Australia AUS Kossi Adjikou
5 DF Australia AUS Louis Wilson
6 MF Australia AUS Eamonn Ross
8 FW Australia AUS Mustafa Jafari
9 MF Australia AUS Ryan Cokell
10 MF Australia AUS Charlie Slaney
11 FW Japan JPN Tomoki Asakawa
12 FW Australia AUS Nodan Thapa
15 MF Australia AUS Scott Black
16 MF Zimbabwe ZIM Felix Muzirwa
17 FW Australia AUS Taye Jackson
18 FW Australia AUS Deen Hasanovic
19 MF Australia AUS Seth Renjifo
20 GK Australia AUS Mitch Edwards
21 DF Australia AUS Jack Meredith
22 MF Australia AUS Seb Hernando
23 DF Australia AUS Kaine Salmon
24 DF Australia AUS Casey Agnew
25 DF Australia AUS Eddie Hasanovic
26 DF Australia AUS Isaac Oberhauser
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 MF Australia AUS Isaac Metherell
28 MF Australia AUS Dominic Van Breemen
29 MF Australia AUS Maurece Jackson
30 GK Australia AUS Brodie Haks
31 MF Australia AUS Byron de Villiers
32 DF Australia AUS Archie Hanson
33 DF Australia AUS Aiden Dohnalek
34 DF Australia AUS Lloyd Cabilan
35 MF Australia AUS Tapiwa Shoniwa
GK Australia AUS Luke Borean
MF Australia AUS Ethan Grimley
MF Australia AUS Josh Wilson
DF Australia AUS Jack Cabassi
DF Australia AUS Ethan Smith
MF Australia AUS Josh Anderson
DF Australia AUS Sam Johnson
DF Australia AUS Nick Piper
MF Australia AUS Darcy Pearson
FW Australia AUS Jordan Farina
DF Australia AUS Tom Ross
MF Australia AUS Feli Sheriff

Coaching Staff[]

Position Name
Head coach Vedran Becirbegovic
Assistant coach Arvind Naidu
Technical director Nacho Ferrer
U/23 coach Bojan Vilic
Goalkeeping coach Fernando Vas Alves
Strength and conditioning Jamie Wilson
Head physiotherapist Will Jordan

Notable players and coaches[]

Ex-players currently playing senior football at professional/overseas clubs[]

Player Club # League Tier
Australia Rahmat Akbari Brisbane Roar 7 Australia A-League 1
Australia 13 Italy Eccellenza 5
New Zealand Ascot United 18 England Combined Counties Football League 9
Australia Lleyton Brooks Melbourne Victory 26 Australia A-League 1
Australia FC Tiamo Hirakata 2 Japan Japan Football League 4
Australia Brisbane Roar 38 Australia A-League 1
Australia Hassan Ramazani Brisbane Roar 35 Australia A-League 1
Australia Aaron Reardon Mohammedan SC 4 Bangladesh Bangladesh Premier League 1
Australia Thackley AFC England Northern Counties East Football League 9
Australia Woking FC 15 England National League 5
Australia Jerrad Tyson Melbourne Victory 19 Australia A-League 1
Australia Newcastle Jets 50 Australia A-League 1
Australia Garforth Town England Northern Counties East Football League 9
Australia Michael Zullo Sydney FC 7 Australia A-League 1

Players who have represented their nation at senior level[]

Active players in bold.

Player Pos National team Apps (Gls) World Cup Confederations Cup Continental championships
Clint Bolton GK Australia Australia 4 (0) 0 1 (2001) 1 (OFC 2000)
Rod Brown FW Australia Australia 2 (0) 0 0 0
Nathan Coe GK Australia Australia 3 (0) 0 0 1 (AFC 2011)
Sean Cranney MF Australia Australia 3 (0) 0 0 1 (OFC 1996)
Denis Daluri FW South Sudan South Sudan 4 (0) 0 0 0
Alex Davani MF Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 4 (3) 0 0 0
Alun Evans DF New Zealand New Zealand 17 (0) 0 0 0
Frank Farina FW Australia Australia 37 (11) 0 0 0
Glenn Gwynne DF Australia Australia 2 (0) 0 0 1 (OFC 1998)
Danny Halligan MF New Zealand New Zealand 36 (5) 0 0 0
Alan Hunter DF Australia Australia 9 (1) 0 0 0
Carl Jorgensen DF New Zealand New Zealand 1 (0) 0 0 0
Stephen Laybutt DF Australia Australia 15 (1) 0 0 2 (OFC 2000, 2004)
Brad McDonald MF Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 1 (0) 0 0 0
Jon McKain DF Australia Australia 16 (0) 0 0 1 (AFC 2011)
Matt McKay MF Australia Australia 59 (2) 1 (2014) 0 2 (AFC 2011, 2015)
Craig Moore DF Australia Australia 52 (3) 2 (2006, 2010) 2 (2001, 2005) 0
Jade North DF Australia Australia 41 (0) 0 0 2 (OFC 2002, 2004)
Jason Polak MF Australia Australia 32 (2) 0 0 1 (OFC 1996)
Adam Sarota MF Australia Australia 3 (0) 0 0 0
Shane Smeltz FW New Zealand New Zealand 58 (24) 1 (2010) 3 (2003, 2009, 2017) 3 (OFC 2004, 2008, 2012)
Matt Smith DF Australia Australia 3 (0) 0 0 0
Shane Stefanutto DF Australia Australia 3 (0) 0 0 0
Felix Tagawa MF French Polynesia Tahiti 22 (14) 0 0 3 (OFC 2000, 2002, 2004)
Kris Trajanovski FW Australia Australia 16 (11) 0 0 2 (OFC 1996, 1998)
Kasey Wehrman MF Australia Australia 12 (0) 0 0 1 (OFC 1998)
Chris Zoricich DF New Zealand New Zealand 57 (1) 0 2 (1999, 2003) 3 (OFC 1998, 2000, 2002)
Michael Zullo DF Australia Australia 10 (0) 0 0 0

Players who have played senior football at professional clubs[]

Ex-player Notes
Australia Rahmat Akbari Former Australian U-17 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Melbourne Victory.

Current Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Australia Richie Alagich Former Australian U-23 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Adelaide United.

Australia Current Australian U-20 international.

Former Croatia Treća HNL player with NK Rovinj (on loan from NK Istra 1961).

Current Italy Eccellenza player with .

Australia Michael Baird Former Australian U-20 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Queensland Roar, Perth Glory and Central Coast Mariners.

Australia Clint Bolton Former Australian international.

Former Australia A-League goalkeeper with Sydney FC and Melbourne Heart.

Australia Lleyton Brooks Current Australian U-20 international.

Current Australia A-League player with Melbourne Victory.

Australia Louis Brain Former Australian U-20 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Adelaide United.

Australia Royce Brownlie Former Australia/New Zealand A-League player with Queensland Roar and Wellington Phoenix.
Australia Peter Buljan Former Australian U-23 international.

Former Germany Regionalliga West/Südwest player with 1. FC Saarbrücken

Former Germany Regionalliga player with SV Eintracht Trier 05.

England Steven Bullock Former England Football League Second Division player with Oldham Athletic.

Former England Football League Fourth Division player with Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County.

Australia Nathan Coe Former Australian international.

Former Italy Serie A goalkeeper with Inter Milan.

Former Netherlands Eredivisie goalkeeper with PSV Eindhoven.

Former Denmark Superliga goalkeeper with F.C. Copenhagen, Randers and SønderjyskE.

Former Sweden Allsvenskan goalkeeper with Örgryte IS.

Former Australia A-League player with Melbourne Victory,

Australia Karl Dodd Former Australia/New Zealand A-League player with Queensland Roar, Wellington Phoenix and North Queensland Fury.

Former Romania Divizia A player with Universitatea Craiova.

Former Scotland Scottish Premier League player for Falkirk.

Former Hong Kong Hong Kong Premier League player for Hong Kong Pegasus FC.

Australia Frank Farina Former Australian captain.

Former Belgium First Division player with Club Brugge.

Former Italy Serie A player with Bari.

Former England Football League First Division player with Notts County.

Former France Ligue 1 player with Strasbourg and Lille.

Australia Steve Fitzsimmons Former New Zealand/Australia A-League player with New Zealand Knights and Queensland Roar.
Australia Paul Foster Former Hong Kong Hong Kong First Division League player with Kitchee SC and Instant Dict FC.
Australia Todd Gava Former Australia A-League player with Queensland Roar.
Australia Ben Griffin Former Australian U-23 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Australia Chay Hews Club record-holder for league appearances (217)

Former Japan J.League player with Bellmare Hiratsuka.

Former Sweden Superettan player with IF Sylvia and Västra Frölunda IF.

Former England Football League Third Division player with Carlisle United.

Australia Scott Higgins Former Australia/New Zealand A-League goalkeeper with Brisbane Roar, Wellington Phoenix and Gold Coast United.

Former Scotland Scottish Premier League goalkeeper for Falkirk.

Former Australian Senate candidate for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party.

Australia Danny Invincibile Former Australian U-20 international.

Former England Football League Second Division player with Swindon Town.

Former Scotland Scottish Premier League player with Kilmarnock and St Johnstone.

Former Cyprus Cypriot First Division player with Ermis Aradippou FC.

Former Thailand Thai Premier League player with Army United.

New Zealand Keegan Jelacic Former New Zealand New Zealand U-17 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Current Queensland NPL Queensland player with Olympic FC.

Australia Jason Kearton Former England Premier League goalkeeper with Everton.

Former England Football League First Division goalkeeper with Crewe Alexandra.

Australia Current Japan Kansai Soccer League player with FC Tiamo Hirakata.
Australia Stephen Laybutt Former Australian international.

Former Japan J.League player with Bellmare Hiratsuka.

Former Netherlands Eredivisie player with Feyenoord Rotterdam and RBC Roosendaal.

Former Norway Eliteserien player with Lyn Oslo.

Former Belgium First Division player with R.E. Mouscron and Gent.

Australia Daniel Leach Former United States Major League Soccer player with Portland Timbers.

Former England League Two player with Barnet FC.

Former England Conference South player with Dover Athletic.

United States Former Finland Ykkönen player with Kemi City and Helsinki IFK.

Former Finland Kakkonen player with Grankulla IFK.

Australia Robert Markovac Former Croatia Prva HNL player with Hajduk Split.

Former Republic of Ireland League of Ireland First Division player with Waterford United.

Former China Chinese Super League player with Guangzhou Evergrande.

Australia Josh McCloughan Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.
Papua New Guinea Brad McDonald Former Papua New Guinea international.

Former Australia A-League player with North Queensland Fury and Central Coast Mariners.

Former Philippines Philippines Football League player with Davao Aguilas F.C.

Current New South Wales NPL 3 player with Central Coast United.

Australia Jon McKain Former Australian international.

Former Romania Divizia A player with Naţional Bucureşti and Politehnica Timișoara.

Former New Zealand/Australia A-League player with Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United.

Former Saudi Arabia Saudi Professional League player with Al-Nassr FC.

Former Malaysia Malaysia Super League player with Kelantan FA.

Australia Matt McKay Former Australian international.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Former China Chinese Super League player with Changchun Yatai.

Former Scotland Scottish Premier League player with Rangers.

Former Korea K League player with Busan IPark.

Australia Stuart McLaren Former Australian U-20 international.

Former Scotland Scottish Football League First Division player with Stirling Albion and Hamilton Academical.

Former Australia A-League player with Queensland Roar and Perth Glory.

Australia Current Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.
Scotland Ronnie McQuilter Former England Football League Third Division player with Bristol City.

Former Scotland Scottish First Division player with Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock, Ayr United, Stirling Albion and St Mirren.

Former Scotland Scottish Second Division player with Clydebank, Stranraer, Queen of the South and Stenhousemuir.

Former Scotland Scottish Third Division player with Gretna.

Australia Golgol Mebrahtu Former Australian U-23 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Gold Coast United, Melbourne Heart and Western Sydney Wanderers.

Former Czech Republic Czech First League player with FK Mladá Boleslav and Sparta Prague.

Former Hungary Nemzeti Bajnokság I player with Puskás Akadémia.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Australia Warren Moon Former Australia A-League player with Queensland Roar.

Former Scotland Scottish Football League First Division player with Queen of the South.

Australia Craig Moore Former Australian captain.

Former Scotland Scottish Premier League player with Rangers.

Former England Football League First Division player with Crystal Palace.

Former Germany Bundesliga player with Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Former England Premier League player with Newcastle United.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Former Greece Super League Greece player with Kavala.

England Kevin Meacock Former England Football League Third Division player with Bristol City and Cardiff City.
Australia Jade North Former Australian captain.

Former Australia/New Zealand A-League player with Perth Glory, Newcastle Jets, Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar.

Former Korea K League player with Incheon United.

Former Norway Eliteserian player with Tromsø IL.

Former Japan J.League player with FC Tokyo and Consadole Sapporo.

Japan Hiroki Omori Former Japan J3 League player for Blaublitz Akita and SC Sagamihara.
Australia Andrew Packer Former Australian U-17 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Sydney FC and Queensland Roar.

Australia Andy Pengelly 2019 NPL Queensland top scorer.

Former Singapore Singapore Premier League player with Lion City Sailors.

Current Queensland NPL Queensland player with Lions FC.

Australia Alistair Quinn Former Australian U-20 international.

Former Netherlands Eerste Divisie player with Telstar.

Australia Jason Polak Former Australian international.

Former Greece Alpha Ethniki player with Panathinaikos.

Former Netherlands Eredivisie player with De Graafschap.

Bosnia and Herzegovina Sasa Radulovic Former Germany 2.Bundesliga player with Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and LR Ahlen.

Former Germany 3.Liga player with FC Augsburg.

Former Norway Eliteserian player with Lillestrøm SK.

Former Bosnia and Herzegovina Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina player with Čelik Zenica.

Former Hungary Nemzeti Bajnokság I player with Újpest FC.

Australia Hassan Ramazani Current Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.
Australia Aaron Reardon Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Current Bangladesh Bangladesh Premier League player with Mohammedan SC.

Brazil Fernando Rech Johnny Warren Medal winner for Best Player in the 2001–02 National Soccer League.

Former Brazil Campeonato Brasileiro Série A player with Juventude, Palmeiras, Internacional and Etti Jundiaí.

Former Japan J.League player for Yokohama Flügels.

Former Australia A-League player with Adelaide United.

Australia Jonti Richter Former Australian U-20 international.

Former Australia/New Zealand A-League player with Queensland Roar and New Zealand Knights.

Australia Anthony Roche Former Germany Oberliga Nordrhein player with Fortuna Dusseldorf.

Former England League Two player with Yeovil Town.

Australia Josh Rose Former New Zealand/Australia A-League player with New Zealand Knights, Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne City.
Australia Adam Sarota Former Australian international.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar.

Former Netherlands Eredivisie player with FC Utrecht.

Former Netherlands Eerste Divisie player with Go Ahead Eagles.

Australia Former Australia A-League goalkeeper with Brisbane Roar.

Current Victoria (Australia) NPL Victoria goalkeeper with Avondale FC.

Australia Wayne Shroj Former Australian U-23 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Perth Glory and Melbourne Heart.

Former Romania Divizia A player with Naţional Bucureşti and Politehnica Timișoara.

Australia Lorenzo Sipi Former Australia A-League player with North Queensland Fury.

Former British Virgin Islands BVIFA National Football League player with Rebels FC.

Australia Current England English National League player with Woking FC.
New Zealand Shane Smeltz Former New Zealand international.

Former England Football League Two player with Mansfield Town.

Former New Zealand/Australia A-League player with Wellington Phoenix, Gold Coast United, Perth Glory and Sydney FC.

Former Turkey Süper Lig player with Gençlerbirliği.

Former Malaysia Malaysia Super League player with Kedah FA.

Former Indonesia Liga 1 player with Borneo FC.

Australia Matt Smith Former Australian international.

Former England Championship player with Portsmouth.

Former Australia A-League player with North Queensland Fury and Brisbane Roar.

Former Thailand Thai League 1 player with Bangkok Glass.

Former Hong Kong Hong Kong Premier League player with Kitchee.

Current Queensland NPL Queensland player/coach with Brisbane City.

Australia Shane Stefanutto Former Australian international.

Former Norway Tippeligaen player with Lillestrøm SK and Lyn.

Former Australia A-League player with North Queensland Fury and Brisbane Roar.

Australia Former United States USL League One player with Tormenta FC.
Australia Reece Tollenaere Former Australia A-League player with Queensland Roar.
Australia Kris Trajanovski Former Australian international.

Former Hong Kong Hong Kong First Division League player with Happy Valley and South China.

Former Singapore S.League player with Tanjong Pagar United.

Australia Michael Turnbull Former Australian U-23 international.

Former New Zealand/Australia A-League player with New Zealand Knights and Melbourne Victory.

Former contestant on reality TV show The Bachelorette.

Australia Jerrad Tyson Former Australian U-23 international.

Former Australia A-League goalkeeper with Gold Coast United, North Queensland Fury, Perth Glory and Western Sydney Wanderers.

Former Hong Kong Hong Kong Premier League goalkeeper with Sun Pegasus.

Former India I-League goalkeeper with Chennai City FC.

Current Australia A-League goalkeeper with Melbourne Victory.

Australia Sebastian Usai Former Australia A-League goalkeeper with North Queensland Fury.

Former England Premier League goalkeeper with Blackburn Rovers.

Former Sweden Division 1 Norra goalkeeper with AFC United.

Former Scotland Scottish Third Division goalkeeper with Cowdenbeath.

Former Sweden Division 2 Norrland goalkeeper with Friska Viljor FC.

Former Spain Tercera División goalkeeper with CD Robres.

Australia Kasey Wehrman Former Australian international.

Former Norway Tippeligaen player with Moss, Lillestrøm, Fredrikstad and Lyn.

Former Australia A-League player with Newcastle Jets.

Australia Current Australia A-League player with Newcastle Jets.
Australia Brendan White Former Australia A-League player with Gold Coast United, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory.

Current Victoria (Australia) NPL Victoria player with Heidelberg United.

Australia Russell Woodruffe Former Australian U-20 international.

Former Australia A-League player with Central Coast Mariners.

New Zealand Chris Zoricich Former New Zealand captain.

Former England Football League Second Division player with Leyton Orient.

Former England Premier League player with Chelsea.

Australia Michael Zullo Former Australian international.

Former Australia A-League player with Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United and Melbourne City.

Former Netherlands Eredivisie player with FC Utrecht.

Current Australia A-League player with Sydney FC.

Ex-players/coaches who have coached national teams or professional/top flight club teams[]

Ex-player or coach Team Years
Kevin A'Herne-Evans Australia Brisbane Roar (assistant) 2020–2021
Miron Bleiberg Israel Hapoel HaTzair Kiryat Haim 1982–1983
Australia Heidelberg United 1989–1990
Australia Brisbane United 1991–1993
Australia Queensland Roar 2004–2006
Australia Gold Coast United 2009–2012
Karl Dodd Guam Guam 2018–2021
Australia Newcastle Jets (assistant) 2021–present
Frank Farina Australia Brisbane Strikers 1996–1998
Australia Marconi Stallions 1998–1999
Australia Australia 1998–2005
Australia Queensland Roar 2006–2009
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 2011–2013
Australia Sydney FC 2012–2014
Fiji Fiji 2015–2016
Paul Foster Hong Kong Hong Kong Football Club 2010–2011
Hong Kong Hong Kong Sapling 2011–2012
Hong Kong Happy Valley 2013
Alan Hunter Australia Sydney United 2000–2001
Danny Invincibile Thailand Bangkok United B 2020–present
John Kosmina Australia Newcastle Breakers 1995–1998
Australia Brisbane Strikers 1999–2003
Australia Adelaide United 2003–2007
Australia Sydney FC 2007–2009
Australia Adelaide United 2011–2013
Sean Lane Bangladesh Mohammedan Sporting Club 2019–present
Stuart McLaren Australia Brisbane Strikers 2003–2004
Australia North Queensland Fury (assistant) 2010–2011
Scotland Stirling Albion 2014–2016
Scotland Scotland U16 2018–present
Scotland Scotland women (interim) 2021
Warren Moon Australia Brisbane Roar 2020–present
Gary Phillips Tonga Tonga 2001
Australia Sydney Olympic 2001–2003
Vietnam Da Nang FC 2004
Malaysia Sabah FA 2009–2011
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Women 2014–2015
Malaysia Negeri Sembilan FA 2015–2016
Philippines Davao Aguilas 2017
Nepal Nepal (technical director) 2019–2021
Nepal Nepal women 2021
Bruce Stowell Australia Sydney Olympic 1977
Australia Newcastle Breakers 1991–1993
Australia Brisbane Strikers 1994–1996
Malaysia Johor 1999–2000
Felix Tagawa New Caledonia Hienghène Sport 2018–present
Kasey Wehrman Norway Strømmen IF (assistant) 2015
2018
Norway FK Ørn Horten 2016
Norway Fredrikstad FK (assistant) 2019
Norway Strømmen IF 2021–present

Other notable players[]

Ex-player Notes
Australia Andy Harper Fox Sports Australia analyst.
Australia James Johnson Former Australian U-17 international.

Current Football Australia chief executive officer.

List of head coaches[]

Coach Years
Miron Bleiberg 1991–1994
Bruce Stowell 1994–1996
Frank Farina 1996–1998
John Kosmina 1998–2003
2020–2021
Stuart McLaren 2003–2004
2008–2010
Bobby Hamilton 2005–2006
Craig Collins 2007
David Large 2010–2013
2018
Chay Hews 2014
Kevin A'Herne-Evans 2015–2016
Sean Lane 2017
Owen Baker 2019–2020
Vedran Becirbegovic 2021–present

Honours[]

National Soccer League

FFA Cup

  • Semi finals: 2019
  • National Round of 16: 2014, 2016
  • National Round of 32: 2015
  • Michael Cockerill Medal: Fraser Hills (2019)

National Premier Leagues

  • Grand Finalists: 2017
  • Semi finalists: 2016

NPL Queensland

  • Premiers (2): 2016, 2017
  • League Runners-Up: 2015
  • Grand Finalists: 2015
  • Golden boot: 2019 (Andy Pengelly – 41 goals)

Queensland State League

  • Premiers (2): 2009, 2012
  • League Runners-Up (3): 2008, 2010, 2011
  • Grand Finalists (4): 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
  • Golden Boot: 2010 ( – 23 goals)

Brisbane Premier League

  • Premiers: 2006
  • League Runners-Up: 2007
  • Champions: 2006
  • Grand Finalist: 2007

Canale Cup

  • Champions: 2014

  • Champions: 2006

Silver Boot

  • Champions (3): 2010, 2013, 2018
  • Runners-Up (2): 2009, 2016
  • Third-place play-off winner: 2019

Records[]

League[]

  • Win: 12–1 v Sunshine Coast FC (NPL Queensland round 18, Perry Park, 20 August 2019)
  • Loss: 10–0 v Olympic FC (NPL Queensland round 8, Goodwin Park, 9 May 2021)
  • Goals in a single game: 9 – Andy Pengelly (v Sunshine Coast FC, NPL Queensland round 18, Perry Park, 20 August 2019)
  • Appearances: Chay Hews (217)
  • Attendance: 40,446 v Sydney United (1996–97 NSL Grand Final, Suncorp Stadium, 25 May 1997)

FFA Cup[]

  • Win: 10–1 v Souths United (Preliminary Fourth Round, Perry Park, 9 April 2019)
  • Loss: 1–5 v Melbourne City (Semi Final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)
  • Goals in a single game: 6 – Andy Pengelly (v Souths United, Preliminary Fourth Round, Perry Park, 9 April 2019)
  • Attendance: 3,706 v Melbourne City (Semi Final, Perry Park, 1 October 2019)

References[]

  1. ^ "Brisbane Strikers | The Brisbane Strikers". The Brisbane Strikers. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  2. ^ "Symbols used by Council". www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  3. ^ Lingard, John (23 January 1994). "Striking the right balance". The Sun-Herald.
  4. ^ Schwab, Laurie (22 October 1993). "New names but the same old NSL". The Age. p. 27. Retrieved 29 April 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Football finds a female champion in Bonita Mersiades". NewsComAu. 26 July 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  6. ^ "PM – Soccer clubs threaten legal action over restructure". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Soccer Oz blasted". The World Game. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  8. ^ "Brisbane Strikers would make the grade in A-League insists chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans". adelaidenow.com.au. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  9. ^ ASIC, NZCO and. "Search Company and Other Registers". connectonline.asic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  10. ^ "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Brisbane Strikers FC". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Calcioscommesse: l'elenco dei fermati". La Gazzetta dello Sport - Tutto il rosa della vita (in Italian). Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  13. ^ FC, Brisbane Strikers. "Football is not only our game it's our way of life". Brisbane Strikers FC. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Search Company and Other Registers". connectonline.asic.gov.au. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  15. ^ "Sydney FC to meet Wollongong Wolves in FFA Cup Round of 32". SBS. 30 June 2016.
  16. ^ http://www.theffacup.com.au/matchcentre/Rovers-Darwin-FC-v-Brisbane-Strikers/862153
  17. ^ "Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 draw revealed". Football Federation Australia. 10 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Brisbane Strikers vs Melbourne City FC, FFA Cup, Round of 16, 24th Aug 2016". 31 July 2017.
  19. ^ Smith, Pete (8 August 2019). "Brisbane earns a 'cupset' double as the Roar and Strikers progress". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  20. ^ Smith, Pete (29 August 2019). "Brisbane Strikers advance as Roar pay the penalty". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Couriermail.com.au | Subscribe to The Courier Mail for exclusive stories". www.couriermail.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  22. ^ Jackson, Ed (1 October 2019). "Melbourne City demolish Brisbane Strikers to reach FFA Cup final". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  23. ^ Rugari, Vince (25 May 2017). "Brisbane Strikers officially in the race for an A-League licence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  24. ^ "Brisbane Strikers – what could have been | FootballToday.news". footballtoday.news. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  25. ^ Atfield, Cameron (5 September 2018). "Brisbane needs a boutique stadium and the World Game can deliver it". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Statement – A-League expansion | www.brisbanecityfc.com.au". www.brisbanecityfc.com.au. Retrieved 9 September 2018.

External links[]

Preceded by
Melbourne Knights
NSL Champions
1996/97
Succeeded by
South Melbourne


Retrieved from ""